Barcelona has moved against the cannabis clubs in the city and ordered one-third of them to close.
City officials are nervous that Barcelona is quickly gaining a reputation similar to Amsterdam as a haven for marijuana smokers.
After inspecting 145 clubs in the city, nearly 50 were told that because of management deficiencies they would have to shut.
The violations cited included selling cannabis illegally, attracting tourists into their premises and poor ventilation.
Legally, marijuana can be cultivated and distributed to members of a non-profit association who pay a subscription and fees to cover the cost of growing the plants.
Spain has seen a rise in the number of cannabis clubs, jumping from 40 associations in 2010 to more than 700 across the land today. Some clubs operate out of elegant bars while others are barely furnished rooms in apartment buildings.
Both Barcelona City Hall and the cannabis associations want clearer operating regulations put in place to avoid such confrontation.
Catalonia already has 165,000 registered cannabis club members.
